back to OSHA Safety and Health Topics

Contents
Page last reviewed: 03/23/2012
Diesel Exhaust - Copyright WARNING: Not all materials on this Web site were created by the federal government. Some content — including both images and text — may be the copyrighted property of others and used by the DOL under a license. Such content generally is accompanied by a copyright notice. It is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permission from the owner's of such material prior to making use of it. You may contact the DOL for details on specific content, but we cannot guarantee the copyright status of such items. Please consult the U.S. Copyright Office at the Library of Congress — http://www.copyright.gov — to search for copyrighted materials.
Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust is a pervasive airborne contaminant in workplaces where diesel-powered equipment is used. Due to expanding use of diesel equipment, more and more workers are exposed to diesel exhaust. More than one million workers are exposed to diesel exhaust and face the risk of adverse health effects, ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer and respiratory disease. Such workers include mine workers, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling machine operators, farm workers, longshoring employees, and auto, truck and bus maintenance garage workers.

Standards

OSHA has not established a standard for diesel exhaust as a unique hazard however exposures to various chemical components of diesel exhaust are addressed in specific standards for general industry and shipyard employment. This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and other federal standards related to diesel exhaust. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

OSHA

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

Federal Registers

Directives

Standard Interpretations

Other Federal

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA is responsible for developing regulations that set emission standards for diesel vehicles and engines, as well as for diesel fuel. Though these are not directly related to occupational exposure, lowering emissions does lower potential occupational exposure.

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

  • An Introduction (30 CFR)
    • 30 CFR 7, Testing by applicant or third party
      • Subpart E, Diesel engines intended for use in underground coal mines
      • Subpart F, Diesel power packages intended for use in areas of underground coal mines where permissible electric equipment is required
    • 30 CFR 36, Approval requirements for permissible mobile diesel-powered transportation equipment
    • 30 CFR 70, Mandatory health standards -- Underground coal mines
      • Subpart T, Diesel exhaust gas monitoring
    • 30 CFR 75, Mandatory health standards underground coal mines (continued)
      • Subpart T, Diesel-powered equipment
  • Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners. Federal Register Proposed Rule, Volume 64, Number 56, Pages 14200-14201, (1999, March 24). Also available as a 20 KB PDF, 2 pages. Helps workers become aware of increased diesel particulate matter (dpm) in underground mining.

  • Approval, Exhaust Gas Monitoring, and Safety Requirements for the Use of Diesel-Powered Equipment in Underground Coal Mines. Federal Register Final Rule, Volume 61, Number 208, Pages 55411-55461, (1996, October 25). Discusses the use of diesel engines in underground coal mines.
    • Information Regarding Diesel Regulations. Lists the Federal Regulations affected by the final rule which establishes new requirements for the approval of diesel engines and other components used in underground coal mines; requirements for monitoring of gaseous diesel exhaust emissions by coal mine operators; and safety standards for the use of diesel-powered equipment in underground coal mines.

Health Recognition

Hazardous levels of diesel exhaust can be found in occupations ranging from mining to driving diesel fueled trucks or forklifts. In addition to occupational exposure, the wide use of diesel engines in transportation provides significant opportunity for environmental exposure to these emissions. Control technology could significantly limit many diesel exhaust exposures, although additional information and research are needed on the methods to monitor diesel particulates and determine the level of risk such particulates cause. The following links provide information about the health effects of diesel exhaust:

  • Diesel Exhaust in the United States [412 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA-420-F-03-022, (2003, June).

  • Health Assessment Document for Diesel Engine Exhaust [9 MB PDF, 669 pages]. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Center for Environmental Assessment, (2002, May). Examined information regarding the possible health hazards associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DE), which is a mixture of gases and particles.

  • National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign promotes clean air strategies by working with manufacturers, fleet operators, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations, and state and local officials to reduce diesel emissions.

Exposure Evaluation

  • Chemical Sampling Information. OSHA. Presents, in concise form, data on a large number of chemical substances that may be encountered in industrial hygiene investigations. Basic reference for industrial hygienists engaged in OSHA field activity.

Analytical Methods

OSHA

OSHA has developed and validated methods for use by the Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC) laboratory. The following methods on the Partial List of Chemicals Associated with Diesel Exhaust page have been adopted by many laboratories for the analysis of chemical compounds.

Possible Solutions

  • Practical Ways to Reduce Exposure to Diesel Exhaust in Mining — A Toolbox. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Provides information shared at workshops about practical methods to reduce exposure to diesel exhaust in mining. This material is organized as a toolbox so it can be put to use directly by those working with diesel-powered equipment.

  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149, (2007, September). Provides a physical description, exposure limits, measurement method, personal protection and sanitation, first aid, respirator recommendations, exposure routes, symptoms, target organs, and cancer sites.

Because diesel engines can operate for 20 to 30 years, millions of older, dirtier diesel engines are still in use. EPA offers many strategies and programs to help make these engines operate more cleanly and funding to help build diesel emission reduction programs that improve air quality and protect public health. EPA recommends a wide range of emission reduction strategies for diesel vehicles, vessels, locomotives, or equipment. These include:

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

Training

  • The major mechanism for the control of diesel emissions is the proper operation of the engines. Therefore, the training of maintenance personnel in their care and adjustment is a critical issue. All personnel involved in engine maintenance should thoroughly understand the maintenance procedures recommended by the engine manufacturer and should follow all preventative maintenance schedules.

  • Equipment operators should be trained in the efficient use and care of the equipment.
    • Train personnel who handle fuel and lubricating oils to prevent contamination from dust, water, or other sources.
    • Train operators in routine inspection and maintenance.
    • Train operators to avoid operating the engine at low RPM in high load situations ("lugging").
    • Do not idle engines excessively.
  • Personnel working with diesel fuel in areas where diesel exhaust may be present should be advised of the potential hazards of exposure.

Other Resources

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.